Pioneering Your Family Story: Inspiration from the Collie Family

15Mar

A couple of months ago my husband and I were asked to go on a trip to Jinja, Uganda. We were asked to go as storytellers for a non-profit organization called Sole Hope. At first I jumped with an answer, “YES!”. Then my husband’s voice of reason echoed. “What about the kids?” “Why are we going again?” The doubts pierced my confidence.

“Should we go?”“Why would they ask us?”“How can I leave my kids?”

The questions lingered, but my confidence grew. I knew we were supposed to go. I was willing to stay, but my heart was aching for an adventure, and I felt like this was God’s answer. It had been 13 years since my last African adventure, and it was long overdue. Kyle and I actually spent our first anniversary with the Massai tribe in Kenya. To say the least, it was one of the most memorable anniversaries. Last Fall we celebrated our 15th anniversary and had plans to celebrate in the place that we got engaged, Hawaii. Instead of a paradise vacation, Kyle was at the only place he needed to be, at his sister Charysse’s side as she spent her last days on this earth. Our 15th anniversary was nothing like we imagined or had hoped for, but then God sent this trip to Uganda our way. In some ways, it was a light of redemption in the midst of a dark season of grief and loss.

I was ecstatic when we were able to tell Dru {Sole Hope Executive Director} that we would come. Going on this Storytelling Adventure seemed far off and dreamy, but the departure date was quickly approaching. Suddenly I found myself knee deep with to do lists. What to pack, what to do with the kids, vaccinations needed, passports that needed to be updated…the list was long. I questioned the logistics, but I never questioned whether or not we should go. Then I found my mind going to a way of thinking that I don’t usually allow myself to go.

“What if?”

Suddenly it felt different to be leaving the country with my kids in it. I couldn’t let my mind go to the place of worst case scenario, but my heart was struggling. The call was real, the desire was tangible, but the unknown kept me in a place of over-preparedness. If I could plan for the worst case scenario, then maybe it wouldn’t be the worst case. Maybe it would only be the “not so great.”

Last Friday, we dropped off the kids at school. Instead of saying our goodbye’s, I intentionally said, “See you soon”. My heart needed to hear it more than theirs. It’s only 10 days. As I boarded the plane to Uganda, I paused to feel the moment, to savor the emotions. What did I feel? Peace.

It was the peace that surpasses all understanding, that overwhelming calm that soothes your soul. It was the confirmation I needed to know that the call to go was not overcast by my desire, but it was truly divine direction.

When I found myself struggling with leaving the country with my children in it, I would often think of Asher Collie. Tonight I was able to hear her story of how Sole Hope began. Five years ago she watched a YouTube video that introduced her to little sand fleas, called jiggers. The moment she saw it, something came alive in her. She knew she needed to be part of the solution. She had a vision to provide shoes for kids who needed them. At the time she didn’t even know who it was that was infested with this parasite, but she knew she needed to find out. She and her husband, Dru became pioneers. Nobody was talking about jiggers, and nobody was trying to come up with a solution. But God had given them a vision…to be the somebody doing something about jiggers.

Step-by-step they found their way. First they needed to find out where jiggers were a problem. Asher had never even been to Africa, so she planned research trips. Then they figured out they couldn’t simply give the people shoes; they needed to provide treatment and education. For a few years they managed to raise awareness and funds while living in the States, then it became apparent that they needed to be on the frontlines. With 3 small children {the youngest only 2 weeks old} they moved their family to a city they had never even visited – Jinja, Uganda.

Asher didn’t know how the direction of her life {and her family’s life} would change when she clicked on that YouTube video years ago. Her initial dream of solving the problem was simply to collect shoes and give them out. She had to take an initial step of faith in order to have a clearer vision of what this God sized dream could look like. She never would have imagined Sole Hope as it is today.

Obviously we are not all called to be missionaries to Africa, but we are all given opportunities to be pioneers.

Maybe you are a community pioneer and you are supposed to lead a Bible club for the kids in your neighborhood…

Maybe you are a hospitality pioneer and you set out to have 100 people over for dinner in the next 6 months…

Maybe you are support pioneer and you start a MOPS group or neighborhood support group…

Maybe you are an advocate pioneer and you want to do something to help eradicate jiggers, then you should host a shoe cutting party.

The truth is we are all called to something new. It may be a new season of rest and boundaries, but even that in itself is something new. We need to ask for a vision of what it is we see for our family, and the vision is more clear when it lines up with our values.

For Asher it was being the pioneer for #zerojiggers. For me, it was going on an African adventure. Although I had my doubts {and still do to some degree}, I know that by being willing to step out in faith and out of my comfort zone, my family would have a better story than if I would have just stayed home and listened to my doubtful and worried self. If Asher could move her entire family across the world, then surely I could leave mine for just 10 days.

What is it that you have vision for your family in the next 3-6 months? What need do you see around you that you could envision being part of the solution for?

I invite you to follow along my storytelling journey for Sole Hope on Instagram and Facebook .

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Well, Hello There!

Welcome to Gather & Grow! I'm Jess and I'm a busy mom, just like you! I want to see my children grow in relationship with Jesus and impact the world for his glory, but it seems impossible to fit effective faith-building into our very busy lives. (can I get an amen?!) I'm on a mission to make faith simple and long-lasting and I'm thrilled you've chosen to join me here. Read More…

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